Influence of silver nitrate and copper sulfate on somatic embryogenesis, shoot morphogenesis, multiplication, and associated physiological biochemical changes in Gladiolus hybridus L.

Micronutrients are essential for in vitro plant tissue growth, and manipulating their levels in culture medium to promote in vitro growth and morphogenesis is essential in plant tissue culture experiments. In the present study, the effects of copper sulfate hydrate (CuSO4·5H2O, 0–15 μM), silver nitrate (AgNO3, 0–60 μM), and their combinations on callus induction and various morphogenic processes at different treatment levels were studied in Gladiolus hybridus. AgNO3 was found to be more efficient at promoting the parameters studied, with 40 μM being more efficient than other treatment levels tested. In the case of CuSO4·5H2O treatments, maximum efficiency was achieved with 7.5 μM. Results of the experiments on morphogenesis and associated physiological biochemical changes suggest that treatments that involved combining the two metals promoted morphogenesis to a greater degree by affecting physiological biochemical changes essential for the morphogenic parameters studied. This technique seems to be appropriate when applied to embryogenic tissue formation and somatic embryo differentiation.